Lakers Talk HR 1: Hitting Another Level

0:00Spring is here, and there's a whole new way to chie at Starbucks that's made perfect for you. Choose your sweetness, style it up, or keep things light. Add a touch of pistachio, a hint of strawberry, or vanilla, or make it a spring classic with lavender. Because this season, there's endless ways to chie at Starbucks. This is Lakers Talk on 710 ESPN. It was the most impressive win of the season. Yesterday afternoon at crypto.com arena. The NYX will average 117 points a game. Finish with 97 points. The lockdown Lakers detailed the NYX to just 97 points. And Luca hopes to keep building off that wire to wire performance. I mean, it's pretty awesome win for sure. You know, they just came a bit nugget by 40 and nugget. So I think it's a very big win for us. I'll give you a lot of confidence moving forward. Head coach JJ Redick hopes to keep the squad focused. My job is not to overreact.

1:00We're 15 and 9 in our last 24. We're top 10 off into top 15 defense. I think that's what we wanted to be coming into this season with this group. And that's where our group is right now. Lakers Talk is presented by Hogue or the PEDIC Institute. When pain keeps you from doing what you love. Hogue or the PEDIC Institute gets you back to you. They said Hogue or the PEDIC Institute.com. They get the help you need today. And all new Lakers Talk is on right now. Here's Andy Kamenetski. What is up Laker fans? This is Lakers Talk, Andy Kamenetski, ESPNLA. Thank you very much for being here, for listening, for watching. If you are on the YouTube channel right now. We are obviously the home of the Lakers right here at ESPNLA 710. But we are also the home of the Rams. You're L.A. Kings, U.S.C. Polegate, the NFL Combine, all sorts of different sports,

2:00which means Lakers Talk and me and Funchy and Deandre. Also to National Kickball Championship. The National Kickball Championship, what was once on the Ocho, it is now on 710. ESPN, nothing by the way, translates better to radio than Kickball. Nothing translates better to this particular medium than Kickball. But because of all of the different sports and entertainment that we carry at 710. ESPN, it means that me and Funchy and Deandre become a traveling circus different day of the week, often different times. The Lakers Talk faithful. You are always here with us and it is always greatly appreciated. We got a lot to get into today. Lakers got a really tough slate of games coming up between yesterday, versus the next, and March 25th. Like if the Lakers are going to at minimum, stay out of the plane. They are currently five seed in a tie with the Nuggets.

3:02Just two games ahead of the Suns at 7th. They got to win some games. But they are also just a half game behind the Rockets for the four seed one game behind the Wolves, who they already on the tiebreaker over. And they will be facing tomorrow at the crypt. They will be taken on Ant Edwards and the gang tomorrow. So like if they want to potentially get all the way up to the three seed. They got a lot of games coming up. Some tough games between what started yesterday, versus the next, and March 25th, where the break officially begins against the Indiana Pacers. Lakers got to win a lot of games. We'll break down what makes it such a tough slate. What we're going to be looking for. It is that time of year again, that time of season where folks are asking whether the Lakers are better without LeBron James. The question that gets John Ireland up off his seat and taking phone calls. I don't care. Star up and driven town.

4:03I don't get it. Every time this comes up to John Ireland, he just does. Star up and driven town. But after yesterday's win over the next, which obviously we're going to be going to get into, which LeBron did not play in. It has resurfaced the latest and frankly never ending question for Lakers fans over. Certainly this season and maybe even the last couple with the Lakers be better off without LeBron James. We're going to get into that. I also have an idea of how LeBron who has never been truly embraced by Lakers nation. Would you guys agree with that? LeBron has never fully ingratiated himself with his fan base. Certainly not in a sustainable way over what is now eight season. Yeah, I can agree with that. Yeah. I mean, there I think there have been a few peaks. They certainly were excited when he arrived or at least the ones that were not making this all about Kobe versus LeBron. But he's never fully ingratiated himself that way. I have an idea that could potentially win over a lot of fans this season.

5:05We'll get into that going to preview tomorrow. Again, like I said, huge game between the Lakers at the wolves at the Crip 8 p.m. Tip and at the risk of sounding like an old man seriously NBA. Seriously, NBC, seriously peacock 8 p.m. Tip off. Like why not make that as ridiculous? By the way, why not make this just like a midnight tip off treated like the Rocky Horror picture show or something like that? Like we're really doing an eight late night with David Letterman. Dude, 8 p.m. I get with all of the national TV commercials. Like there's going to be extra stoppages like they there should be no challenges allowed in this game. Like none. And they'll be plenty of you take us the refs give you tomorrow and you accept it running clock. The rest of us make us slow and just call every single foul. I'm going to say this in advance. I haven't seen what any of them have done. I hate all three of them already. I've already decided to hate all three of them, but it is though a big game tomorrow versus the Lakers and wolves.

6:05I think it could be a really, really fun game. And we're going to preview it with John Krasinski covers the Timberwolves for the athletic and his podcast of John Krasinski show. Like he is the best out there in terms of local team coverage. He's fantastic. So excited for everyone to hear that conversation. Pleasure calls to one three seven nine nine zero one three nine two one three seven nine nine zero one three nine. But we got to begin with Sunday afternoons huge win over the next one ten ninety seven no LeBron James. Still dealing with the effects of that hard fall against the nuggets left elbow contusion. We're going to talk about this later on though. The elbow is not LeBron's problem right now. There's a new problem going on in terms of his health. We'll talk about that later in the show, but he missed the game because of the elbow and also the standard left foot arthritis. And this was a there. There's no word yet whether or not he'll be available tomorrow against the wolves. But he was that practice. He watched film didn't take part in anything.

7:05Although it was not. I think a particularly strenuous practice. But the Lakers were shorthanded against the quality next team. We've all talked about all season. The Lakers lack of success against teams above 500, which certainly the nicks qualify as are the currently the three seed in the east. And wire to wire the Lakers control this game from start to finish. They did not. They were not behind at any point in this game. They broke it wide open and then in the fourth quarter when the offense actually stalled out and the nicks started making a few pushes. They managed to hold New York off through the way that they actually broke this game open and the tone that they set and something we have not said much this season. It was their defense man. Their defense in this game from the opening tip to the final buzzer was awesome.

8:07Like awesome. And it was awesome in a way where all 10 players who stepped on the court. I don't think any of them was a weak link in this game. I don't think any of the 10 players who were in the rotation against the nicks stood out as a we got a cover for that guy or we got to work around this guy. From just top to bottom. All 10 guys played a role in holding this nicks team that averaged 117 heading into the game to 97 forcing them into some really difficult shots throughout the game. They were disruptive. They created turnovers. They created points off the turnovers. They scored 21 points off the next turnovers in this game. And that more than I thought the under anything else in this game like we can talk about. Luca had a brilliant offensive game. Austin Reeves will get into this was the best game. He's had offensively in a while. Like really hot. Tomorrow had a good game off the bench. Luke can our good game off the bench scoring.

9:07But more than anything else. It was the defense. And how hard they played for 48 total minutes that I think ultimately allowed them to win this game. I mean, ripen is starting to match in their energy on that end of the four. That's a good sign for this Lakers team. But also I think what we should really talk about is how they were actually being able to rotate correctly on the help side of the defense. I mean, Marcus Martin, taking charges. Austin Reeves taking charges that even Luca don't even take in charges. That's just a testament to Lakers being on the right rotation side of the defense. Honestly, man, the last couple weeks. I think Lucas defense has been pretty good. Like I'm not going to say it's brilliant. I'm not going to say it's like first team all the all NBA defense. I'm not looking for that from Luca. I'm looking for solid enough not to be a problem. And the last couple of weeks. I actually think Lucas defense has been fairly good against the Knicks. Luca like everybody else was very good. You talk about the charges drawn like the Lakers in this game.

10:08Like Marcus smart stood out here, but there were other guys as well. Did a really good job drawing files against important Knicks. Like Mikhail Bridges or Josh Hart or other guys across the roster picked up key files. That the Lakers drew against them. Like the effort in this game like Deandre his defense. I thought at the start of this game. Like I think Marcus smart did more than anybody else in terms of like maintaining the tone and the physicality and the energy and like that ethos. But I actually thought the defensive tone of the game. And I know he's not your dude. I know he is not your guy Deandre Deandre Hawkins. Not a fan of Deandre, but in this game. I thought particularly in the first quarter. Eight in defense was really good. And I give credit where credit is due. He came out right from the jump and he had energy. He provided a lot of effort, especially on a defensive editor before I give credit where credit is due. I just want this to be sustainable. Be able to have this out of consistent rate.

11:09I know that could be a lot to ask for when it comes to Deandre. But it's a good step to the right direction as far as him providing a lot more. And I have not necessarily having to ball in his hands and be effective. My brother Brian, my co-host on my own name podcast. He has a theory about Deandre eight and over the last couple games. I think it's interesting and I wasn't able to get the practice today. They practice in El Segundo. Because I'd like to ask JJ about this in a very diplomatic way. But he has a theory that eight minutes, the last couple of games have gone down. Like even in games where he's played well, like Sunday against the nicks. In part to allow Deandre to just play super hard for like low 20s minutes. And like them, they're telling him you're not being benched. Like if you're being benched, we will tell you you did something wrong. But we are actually trying to allow you to just play super hard for like 20 to 25 minutes.

12:09Just go balls out and we promise if you do that, you're doing your job. It's a little things, though, too. Like he just runs the floor. He can get lamps. He didn't get six straight. He didn't get six to eight points just by running the rim. And again, all we asked if he can just do that consistent rate. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean, and this was a really good game for my thought. Rui was really good on both ends. Jared Vanderbilt, who I don't know if he's creeping back into the rotation because he's back in the rotation. Or because LeBron has missed the last couple of games in Mexico. But it was unavailable for one of them. So they were lacking front court size. But I thought he played very well against the nicks. I've made it very clear all season. I think Vando should be in the rotation. But coming up, how can the Lakers use what happened on Sunday? As proof of concept moving forward during this. Again, really difficult stretch of games. I will offer one piece of it. That is mandatory.

13:09Coming up next two on three seven nine nine zero one three nine. If you want to weigh in two on three seven nine nine zero one three nine again reminder. John Krasinski joining at seven thirty to preview tomorrow's games against the wolves. Lakers talk and a Kiminetsky seven ten ESPN. Smalls here. If it feels like everybody's sick right now, you aren't imagining it. Doctors say this is the worst cold and flu season in 25 years and it's not over. I can't afford to get sick and I doubt that you can either. That's why I ordered a medical emergency kit. It's like having an urgent care and a pharmacy right in your home. It includes prescriptions like generic z-pack to help you get well faster. Plus antibiotics to treat pneumonia, strep throat, sinus and ear infections, nausea, even UTIs and other common illnesses. It's in your kit the moment you need it. No waiting for your doctor, no hours at urgent care. No lines at the pharmacy, no copays. Just match your symptoms to the right prescription in your guidebook and call their telemedicine doctor standing by. Order your medical emergency kit online in minutes and it ships to your door. Say forty five dollars with my promo code Smalls at urgentcarekit.com slash Smalls.

14:11Again, that's forty five dollars off with promo code Smalls at urgentcarekit.com slash Smalls. That's urgentcarekit.com slash Smalls promo code Smalls. Prescription required, always consult your doctor to determine if this product is right for you. At Blinds.com, it's not just about window treatments. It's about you, your style, your space, your way. Whether you DIY or want the pros to handle it all, you'll have the confidence of knowing it's done right. From free expert design help to our 100% satisfaction guarantee, everything we do is made to fit your life and your windows. Because at Blinds.com, the only thing we treat better than windows is you. Visit Blinds.com now for up to 50% off with minimum purchase plus a professional measure at no cost. Rules and restrictions apply. 710 ESPN, a radio home of the purple and gold. And the home of Lakers talk. Lakers win it 110 to 97. In the best defensive game, the Lakers have played in a long time. The Lakers picked up their second straight win at home.

15:12And Austin Reeves likes to strong defensive effort. Tonight was a really good step in the right direction. They're a really good team. They told me out there that they average 117 team. The whole team to 97 points. You know, that caliber just shows that, you know, our grittiness that we've become to enjoy to do on a defensive map. Lakers talk is presented by Hogue Orthopedic Institute. And paint keeps you from doing what you love. Hogue Orthopedic Institute gets you back to you. Visit Hogue OrthopedicInstitute.com to get the help you need today. More in Lakers talk with Andy Kamenetski. Rolls on. Lakers talk into Kamenetski ESPN LA 710. Remind her in about 15 minutes. We'll be joined by John Furzinski from. From the athletic he covers the wolves. Incredible coverage. He knows the team extremely well. So excited to preview and break down the Morrow's game.

16:14James Brown in the background. Also the game within the game for this particular show today. This particular episode of Lakers talk is the battle against the head cold. Because I am dealing with a head cold or something along those lines. And so is Funchy. Funchy is also dealing with something like that. I actually had to come in early for you to do something. And I I was passed out. Yes. I'm going to med. Deandre how you feeling? I feel great. You feel great. Ask him tomorrow. Ask him tomorrow. Well. Now I'm worried I got Deandre. I know me too. I mean you spent more time directly around a bunch. So if someone got him sick, it's probably you. I'm just hoping it's allergies because there's a lot of wins this weekend. I think it could very well be allergies. Like I don't feel sick. I do not feel sick at all. Just from the neck up. It feels like my head weighs like 40 extra. That's how I exactly how I feel. Yeah. It's just uncomfortable. I do not feel sick at all. I've had an appetite like all of that stuff.

17:15But anyway, that's the game within the game mentioned before. There's an element of what we saw against the Knicks. The one ten ninety seven win yesterday afternoon. Lakers very decisive win over a team above five hundred, which has been one of their bugaboos all season. Their lack of success against the best teams. And there's the question of how much of this can be replicated. And how much of this has to do with LeBron specifically moving forward, which we're definitely going to talk about. But there's one piece of this that I do think is worth mentioning now. In terms of what I think will. However successful the Lakers are going to be over the remainder of the season. The next game that win provided one blueprint. They have to be a team that plays with maximum effort for 48 minutes. Like they have to and I know all teams are supposed to play with high effort. Some teams though are more capable of getting away without maximum effort than others.

18:19Whether because they have more talent, whether because they have more natural athleticism, more speed, a roster that just makes so much more sense. Because they've been playing together for three or four years. And they've got so much muscle memory and reps that they can just turn it on whenever they need to. The Lakers do not fall into any of those categories. So they often have to paper over their weaknesses and become the best version, the best sum of their parts. They can only do that by playing really damn hard for 48 minutes. There's no way around it. And to bring out two examples, one being against the Denver Nuggets, where they spotted the nuggets, what nine points they started on. No, no, no, 11. My back was 255. Exactly. 11 points in the first two minutes and 55 seconds. And you do that to a Denver Nuggets team. It's hard to come back. They outplay Denver for the other 45 minutes.

19:21Exactly. You could make that argument, but you can't spot Denver 11 points. And then when they didn't do that to the New York mix, it's another example. So we got two sides before they did that to the nuggets and a bit them. And they went, they didn't do that at the end of the New York mix. And then they have end of having success. Yeah. I mean, like I thought for the overwhelming majority of the Denver game, they played really hard like they, they were out there hustling. Like they made a lot of really good things happen. But they were flat for just three minutes. And those three minutes were an effort disaster and prevented them from winning a game. That again, I think you can argue they outplayed Denver. But it didn't matter. Like you did not matter at all. And they didn't make the necessary adjustments down the stretch because once again, you're down the spot them 11 points. You had zero points and have two minutes, 55 seconds. That is not a formula for winning. But that is one of the things like this game. And there's been a recurrent topic over the course of the season. Like the idea of them playing hard enough, sometimes playing down the level of competition,

20:21sometimes coming off flat or what, they have to be a maximum urgency team. For 48 minutes. It's the only way, whatever you think their ceiling is, even if you don't think their ceiling is that high, high as it needs to be, whatever. If you want them to hit whatever the ceiling is, it's got to be just maximum effort. But see, I feel like even if they were to get maximum effort, which I feel like there's sometimes energy and effort is not really the sole reason to why the Lakers lose games that they. I'm not saying it's the only thing. I'm just saying it's a non-negoti- You know what, JJ talks about non-negotiable. Yes. I'm saying this is a non-negotiable. Like, especially because it's one of those things where you have full control over it. And you can't coach that. Everyone wants to, you know, get on, JJ Reddick and stuff like that. But you can't control someone playing hard. No. That is the self-willing thing. Absolutely. Take a couple calls, Don, in the city of industry, you're on Lakers talk, what's up, Don? Andy K, what is the word?

21:21Good to talk to you. Good to talk. Man, you know, I like the sound of this lockdown, Lakers. Man, more, more, more of this, please. It just goes to show, you know, I remember one time Karim was saying, everybody on the team doesn't have to be a great one on one defender. But everybody's got to be a great team defender. Just do your job, channel your guy towards your stoppers. You know, and man, Mike Brown, after the game, he was lamenting. He was saying, well, you know, we didn't box out. We didn't put bodies on him. Well, that man, we were putting bodies on them. When's the last time we out-sysicaled anybody? Oh. You know, to your point, I love it. I appreciate the call. Like Austin said afterwards that he thought they played harder than the nicks. When is the last time you've heard the Lakers say that? Much less, you've watched them and think that. Like them actually say, we played harder than our opponent. Here's the first time all season.

22:22Yes. It really may be. I mean, you, you may punch you. We hear quite literally all the post game comments like all of them. I don't remember the last time I've heard them say, not just we played hard. We played harder than them. We never hear that. Or they out offensive rebounded and nicks team with Mitchell Robinson, Kat and Josh Hart. They got more offensive rebounds than that team. Like, when is the last time the Lakers have won the offensive rebounding battle? When they've kept any team off the offense. So I take LaRavia. Shout out. I mean, shout out to everyone. Like everyone worked, man. Like, when is the last time the Lakers have had more second chance points than another team? Like, these are all effort plays. And like, the effort was fully on display against the nicks. And I'm not trying to make it all down, you know, all come down to as long as you just play hard for 48 minutes, you'll win. Like, no, there's other elements. There's execution, rotation, schemes, like all sorts of stuff.

23:25But I'm just saying for the Lakers because they are lacking in certain other areas. They cannot reach their maximum ceiling, particularly against teams that are good without playing that hard for damn near 48 minutes. It's it's kind of a non-negotiable. So to Don's point, as far as like being able to play team defense compared to relying on guys play individual defense. That's where the Lakers get themselves into some certain holes is that. I feel like whether they do have energy and effort and stuff like that. They still find themselves into holes on this roster because you can you can count on Marcus smart to give you most of energy on a defensive end of four. Regardless of you shooting a one from the field, you can count on him to be your guy defensively. But that's what it gets to kind of Lakers get that energy and effort from a night's night basis from Luca and Austin reads like they did against the nicks. Like you said, Luca don't you been playing well through at these past couple of games on the defensive end of four? I think the last couple of weeks actually, Luca's been fairly good defensively.

24:27Like again, not lockdown, but good. So solid solid. And that's good as far as Lucas standards, but is that going to be consistent going into the playoffs? A lot of that's up to Luca. I mean, in all honesty, I mean like everybody works together to create the best some of their parts defensively. But the focus and the attention, the urgency defensively, that's on Luca. Like that's a and Luca the last couple of weeks has really seemed more locked in defensively than in the past. And when he's done that, like against the nicks, I thought his defense was really good against the Pacers against the Pelicans. Like I actually think his defense was quite good. I just need to see more of a sample size against the Tim Bulls against a Houston rocket team who is a lot more physical than a lot of other teams. It's only going to get harder. They mean you got the Detroit Paces coming. Then you got the Denver Nuggets again. Like I just want to see it consistently again. Those type of punks. Absolutely. Quick before we break and get to John Krasinski. Mitch in New Jersey. You're on Lakers talk.

25:27It's up. Any watching the engine. I hope you get better at it. Punch. We have some back court. And I can't believe that people can't wait to be LeBron off the team. Maybe maybe gray off the bench and they make the Andre. If he can't play at least 30 minutes. It wasn't energy. You know, my dream with LeBron, I wish he had a place in football. And I wish he could finish his career as a center. And I think you do better than the Andre. I hate it. I know what's going on. You know, I, you know, I can't stand. Yeah, I appreciate the call there, Mitch. You know, it's funny actually. Like we said like center talking about the Andre. And there's like a basketball center. But LeBron. If he had wanted to, man, he could have played the NFL. Like he actually beyond that. Wow. He was like an all state wide receiver. Like he. He really could have played in the NFL. Like he was apparently that good of a football player. He's like, Alan, I was in that good. Some guys are just so good athletically. It's like other than, you know, LeBron has taken up golf at a late age.

26:30Like that's hard to learn at his age. And apparently when sciatica is at risk. But I tend to believe if LeBron had picked up blank sport. As a kid or as a teenager, he had a dominated. Like he's just that special of an athlete. Yes. Look cricket. He could. I've actually said recently, then what will break? I know curling doesn't involve ice skates. But during the Olympics, when I saw curlers, it got me wondering. Has LeBron ever ice skated before? Because I've never heard him talk about it before. I've never heard LeBron. No chance. Okay. You're saying no chance. I would love to see LeBron as an adult. Try ice skating. And to see how quickly someone of his athleticism. Who'd pick up something like ice skating. Which I know a lot of people as adults consider hard to pick up. It's not hard to fathom that he does know how to ice skate. Well, according to John Ray, doesn't. Really? John Ray says no chance. I don't think there's a chance that he would. He's from Ohio. And it is what they do in that.

27:30You know, it is in of the country. It probably is ice skating country. Although they did not have hockey in Ohio and LeBron. I bet you can roll a skate at least. Yeah. But yeah, I just a curling got me thinking about that. Just because LeBron is such a next level athlete. And obviously like beyond the work he puts into it. He's gifted. Got me just thinking about it. Anyway, we're going to break down tomorrow's wolves, lakers, big, big game tomorrow night at the crypt. 8 p.m. pregame coverage begins at 6.30. Right here. John Krasinski, the athletic 710 ESPN. Your little one grew three inches overnight. Adorable. Also expensive. Sell their pint sized pieces on D-Pop. And list them in minutes with no selling fees. Because somewhere, a dad refuses to pay full price for the clothes his kid will outgrow tomorrow. And he's ready to buy your son's entire wardrobe right now. Consider your future growthspurt budget secured. Start selling on D-Pop. Where taste recognizes taste.

28:30Payment processing fees and boosting fees still apply. See website for details. From 30 for 30 podcasts. Brian Patta, senior defensive lineman for Miami. Gunned down. The key to this case. It's Brian. Oh, man. It's a rip, man. A hour before he died, he was on a phone. Or even once a month. This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction. Place your rest. We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now. More Lakers talk with Andy Kamenetski. Rolls-on. The lake so pulled off another win at home. After a quick turnaround. And head coach JJ Reddick is proud of how the boys grinded out the win. To me, this wasn't an offensive game. Like it wasn't going to be an offensive game. This was going to be a gritty, tough game that we had to win with effort. And we did that. Lakers talk is presented by Hogue Orthopedic Institute. And Payne keeps you from doing what you love.

29:30Hogue Orthopedic Institute gets you back to you. Isn't Hogue Orthopedic Institute.com to get the help you need today. And all new Lakers talk is on right now. Back to Andy Kamenetski. Lakers talk. Andy Kamenetski. ESPNLA 710. The Lakers continue part of what's going to be a very tough stretch of games tomorrow night. At the grip versus the timber wolves. 8 p.m. tip. Not going to lie. Kind of late in the evening. NBC. Peacock. Thank you very much. But it should be a really great game. And preview the wolves truly. Nobody better to talk with than John Krasinski. Covers the timber wolves for the athletic. He's also the host of the John Krasinski show podcast. Follow him on Twitter at John Krasinski. John, how are you, man? I'm doing great, Andy. How are you? Good, good. The wolves are coming off a rough loss to the Orlando magic. But they've won eight of their last ten games.

30:32I'll be it not necessarily a murderer's row of opponents. But how would you describe their play of late? You know, it's been up and down. I mean, certainly since the all start break. They've been playing largely well. But it's a team all season long that has been inconsistent. So they will play really well for certain. Stretching of games. And then they'll stub their toe like they did in Orlando against Orlando the other night and lose by 20. So generally speaking when they're playing at a couple of points that they respect. They are very, very good. And then when they're playing opponents that are a little bit lower down the standings, they struggle a little bit. So spend a bit of a jackal on high season for them. I was going to ask you that. That pretty much is the national narrative about this team that they can be a schizophrenic, maddening squad all over the place. But that they also may just be looking ahead to the playoffs, given that they're coming off back to back Western conference finals appearances. How much of do you think just they are bored with the regular season,

31:35justifiable or not? And they just want to get the real games underway dictates that inconsistency. Yeah, I do think that's a lot of it. Andy, I mean, they have like they've won at a fairly high level, but they are still kind of new to this winning. And so there has been complacency in this regular season. For sure. I mean, they've, you know, there have been nights where they just don't really seem to have the intensity, you know, kind of set to where they need to be. There's nights they've taken their opponents for granted. And that's when they get into trouble. And then there are nights when they play the Oklahoma cities of the world, when they play San Antonio, when they beat in twice when they play some other team. You know, even earlier in this season when they played the Lakers, and I think they lost one time at home without Luca and LeBron. And I think that was, you know, largely their own fault. And so I think that there is some boredom that they just want to get this over with

32:35and get to the playoffs and get things going. But that can be dangerous in the Western Conference when everything is logged in from like three to seven. So they've got to be really careful with that. But it's certainly been something that they have been fighting all season long. Talking with John Krasinski covers the Timberwolves for the athletic, as well as his podcast at John Krasinski show. Follow him on Twitter at John Krasinski Lakers talk. Andy Kiminetski, ESPN LA 710. Anthony Edwards's scoring numbers are through the roof. They are extremely efficient, nearly 30 points per game on roughly 50% from the field, 41% from behind the arc. Is this a career season for Ant in your mind? And if not, what's preventing it from being one? No, it definitely is the best season of his career so far. And it kind of follows the script that he's written for himself the last three or four years. He always goes into the off season trying to address a weakness in his game and each year he's done it two years ago. He wanted to become a better three point shooter than he came back last season and made more threes than any player in the league.

33:41This last off season, he wanted to be a better crunch time player and a more versatile offensive score. So he worked on his mid range and his post game and he's been one of the most efficient clutch time players in the league this season because he has so many more ways to go about attacking a defense rather than just for ease or just going to the rim. Get to the mid range, get to his spot at the elbow or kind of in the post and go to work in it and it's been really, really effective. And so, you know, he's been a little inconsistent defensively and I think like his path to MVP status is to be, you know, a lockdown defender most night in addition to what he does offensively. But when you look at everything that he's done for this team and how consistent he has been from a scoring standpoint from an offensive standpoint, he hasn't made a leap. I think he's, you know, wherever you want to put him, he's top five or six in the league right now and in a league that the depth of talent, I think is as great as it's been, perhaps ever like that's that's really saying something he's a real deal bona fide face of the franchise player who just keeps getting better and better every season.

34:51It's funny actually when hearing you talk about the work that he puts in every off season development new skill, which is something that's been well known about and combined with the fact that he, I mean, he clearly wants to be great and he clearly has star like charisma that I think he is not afraid to leverage and unleash. He's also been a part of this face of the league conversation that he is often said he doesn't necessarily care about. How do you think he defines face of the league just because I think that would understand help us understand more of just a guy that seemingly wants to be such a big star saying he's on interest in being the face of the league. Yeah, you know, like honestly, I really do think when he says he doesn't really get into it, like he really doesn't get into it. So if you ever want to turn him off and in interview, do two things. One, just bring up Michael Jordan in comparison to that and the other is to talk about face of the league because he always says I don't want none of that.

35:55You know, you can have Wendy for that. Thank you, and so it's you look at that and he just doesn't want any part of that, which I actually, Andy, that's why I believe he kind of has an inside track to be in the face of the league because I long contended that that kind of moniker like that kind of label. It doesn't it's not something that a player can set out to be he cannot say I want to be the face of the league or I am the face of the league that's a label that chooses you. And because he is reluctant to embrace that, that makes it even more powerful in my part, he doesn't want to be that, but he can't help but being maybe the most charismatic player in the league. He can't help but being a super genuine guy that often tells you exactly what he thinks every single time that his he opens his mouth, he can't help being this overpowering and dynamic offensive player. And so I think eyeballs gravitate to him and it makes it a little more authentic that he is being that you can tell like no one's trying to make him the face of the league or you can try to and it doesn't really matter.

37:10Like it's got to be do people connect with him and they do with him and he's just so fiery and he's so dynamic that I think it positions in well for these next couple of years as LeBron and as Seth and as Katie kind of stays out of that mantle to really be kind of right front and center in that discussion and and be kind of one of the main guys that the league really markets itself around. Talking about John Krasinski covers the Timber Wolves for the athletic as well as his podcast of John Krasinski show follow him on Twitter at John Krasinski Lakers talk and a Kiminetski ESPN LA 710. What is the wolves greatest strength as a team like when they look to leverage blank they are pretty hard to beat. I mean I'll go with two things one is you win and is sort of in playmaking mode that is when they're the most difficult to deal with when he it's not when he's scoring 50 or 40 it's when he's scoring 29 and he has either seven or eight or six or he has a bunch of pocket to get others involved.

38:22That's kind of when they're at their most difficult to handle and that leads me to like the bottom line question or the bottom line answer to your question is what is their greatest strength. It's talent like one from seven find me like more than two other teams that are more talented individually one through seven than the Timber Wolves. They're just our very few out there when you go to Nazari and I would assume you off the bench and then you add in bone Thailand and Kyle Anderson in like that eighth ninth role. But then the starting five is really good together with Ant and Randall and even Chenzone and Rudy and and and and Jane McDaniel's like they're just really individually physically talented. And so when Anthony Edwards is leveraging all of his offensive gravity to get his guys great shot. They just become really hard to deal with and that's when they beat the Thunder and that's when they beat the first is when that ball is moving around and you're finding everybody can do damage on the court.

39:23And so that's why I really like them in the playoffs Andy is like it's usually comes down to pure talent in the playoffs at least in the first couple of rounds and and the Wolves just have more talents than most of the team in the Western Conference and in this week. And the flip side when they are most vulnerable or beatable other than complacency what would you say is the biggest reason. Yeah it's when they it's when they really devolved when it's when a decent can force them into isolation basketball when Anthony Edwards or Julius Randall are just pounding the air out of the ball and trying to break their guy down one on one and everyone else is stagnant and not moving around. And that's when they get into trouble because you just can't get in a rhythm otherwise you know the that way and so even if Randall is driving into the paint late in the shot clock and kicking it to the corner it's hard for McDaniels or even Chendo or or or anyone who's sharing the floor to shoot with confidence and rhythm and and and and really make things happen it's just like.

40:33It you can roll this team into that mono a mono my turn your turn type of basketball that really does work against them more often than not. Well this should be a really interesting game then John because the same thing can be said exactly about the Lakers so I guess it's which team can remain more disciplined talking with John Krasinski covers the Timberwolves for the athletic as well as his podcast John Krasinski show follow him on Twitter at John Krasinski. Lakers talk any Kim Netski seventh and ESPN just a couple more questions for you I know a lot of Laker fans had been hoping if unrealistically that I owed to soon move would somehow be available for them he ended up getting traded from the bulls to the wolves how is he fit in with them. Yeah I expect great I mean there it's certainly I will say that there's been some there there has been some up and down just in terms of the acclimation process and kind of figuring out what his role is and how how he can find his offense and what he does defensively playing with go bear and and all those things so there's been a little bumps in the road but you just see the making of an absolutely perfect fit for what the wolves need they if you remember you know two years ago.

41:45Or even and even last year these last two runs and what's the common finals one of their most important players was Nikhil Alexander Walker who come off the bench guard multiple positions hit open threes kind of give them enough often to kind of get get get over and just be able to do a lot of the little things and they did not really have that for the start of the season they were hoping Rob Dillingham and Karen Shannon junior could do that for various reasons the young guys never did click in that way. But I owe just done so many things that the wolves need of that spot he can guard multiple positions he's a big guy you know six four buddies I mean he's rock solid and the other thing that he does is he gets out in transition and this is a team that has often wanted to play at a slower pace. But I will really make some get out run for easy bucket and so that really works well and so you know you can't you add all that with a really good personality that is just fit in well with this locker room.

42:45And I really don't think that there was any other player available on the trade market for Tim Connolly to go get that fit better so they're just over the moon about. Shot clocks big shots upsets aces TGL playoffs are here first Atlanta drive starts their repeat run against Los Angeles golf club then Rory's Boston common golf and Tigers Jupiter links face off in their playoff debuts who will advance keep up its playoffs tune in Tuesday March 17th at 6 30 p.m. and 9 p.m. only on ESPN and the ESPN app. My day kicks off with the refreshing Celsius energy drink then straight to the gym pre get pick up back onto meal prep time from a fire session shift one more Celsius gotta keep the lights on when the three alarm hits I'm ready. Celsius live fit go grab a cold refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate now at Celsius dot com. What I'll bring to this to the table here and I think it'll only get better over these last 19 games or so as they're getting into the playoffs and he gets more comfortable with them and they get more comfortable with him.

43:50And then last question for you how to expect the wolves to approach slowing Luca. They I mean, you know, they haven't had a lot of success in the past and I mean, you know, he's had great success against them with Dallas and and even with the Lakers as well. He's just one of those unstoppable forces. I do think kind of similar to yokich. I think that they will be okayish with Lucas scoring on his own with him putting up 35, you know, 40 points. But they don't want him to be getting the Andreate involved to be getting us and we've involved to be like really orchestrating. And so if they can turn him into just a scorer and limit the other guys around him, I would say that that is probably their best bet. But that's always easier said than done with him. He's such a terrific player. But that's that would be my guesses is that they'll try to get a little physical with him. Maybe get him a little wild up at the referees and distract him a little bit.

44:54And then also just try and make him say, all right, if you're going to beat us for 50, like we'll shake your hand, but we don't want. Eighteen and Reeves and if LeBron plays and all these others to beat us that way. He is John Krasinski. He covers the Timberwolves for the athletic as well as his podcast. The John Krasinski show follow him on Twitter at John Krasinski. You will not find any coverage of any team around the league better than John and the wolves. Really appreciate the time, brother. Thank you. Anytime any thanks so much. And coming up, we can react to anything John said about this coming matchup with the Timberwolves 213799 0139. Get into the question about the Lakers. Are they better with LeBron or without all that coming up. Lakers talk into Kim Netsky's 710 ESPN. This is Lakers Talk with Andy Kaminetsky. Lakers talk is presented by Hoag or the Peter Ginstitute. When Payne feeds you from doing what you love. Hoag or the Peter Ginstitute gets you back to you. Is it Hoag or the PeterGinstitute.com to get the help you need today.

45:56Now back to Lakers Talk with Andy Kaminetsky. I don't know who this is, but I know it is the sample for a Beneath Applebaum. Exactly. This is called Ramp by Daylight. By Daylight. Yes. I am not familiar with Daylight, but this is one of the primary samples for Beneath Applebaum off tribes first out. Shout out to Mike Trudell, who is undoubtedly listening to him. He is a massive Tribe Called Quest fan. He's also the guy who gifted me my precious beloved Tribe Called Quest. He sure. Love it too. Yeah, it's a great shirt. Thanks again to John Krasinski from the athletic and from the John Krasinski podcast covers the wolves. Great breakdown of tomorrow night's opponent at the crypt 8 p.m. tip off 8 p.m. But 6.30. That's when the pregame begins with Beto DeRan.

46:56He'll have the post game as well. John and Michael on the call. All games can be heard right here on ESPN. And despite the ungodly late hour, it probably should be a really, really fun game. It is time for the Lakers talk injury report brought to you by the call Jacob injury hotline. The only number L.A. Trust after an accident. 800 3456789. 800 3456789. Easy to remember, which is important. If you are rattled from having an accident. Lakers put out their injury report for tomorrow. The only guy on it is LeBron James, which was pretty expected. He'd be listed as questionable. But there's a plot twist. The arthritic foot that we've come to expect that whenever LeBron is listed on the report at all, that that foot would be an issue. But the elbow contusion that kept him out of Friday's game against Indiana and Sunday versus the Knicks, the injury that he incurred down the stretch against the nuggets took a really nasty fall.

47:57And Curtis Elbow tried to finish out the game really couldn't do it. That's not the injury that's on the report along with the arthritic foot. It is offritic foot and right hip contusion. Right hip contusion to the best of my knowledge. This is totally new. Now this may be residual from Denver, like I said, that hard fall was nasty and took like his whole body. So maybe this is a residual layover from that fall. Maybe this is something new. Like LeBron just woke up and his hip was hurting. Like old people's hips hurt. Maybe he just said he's another day of rest. I don't know. And they're just coming up with something. You think they're just coming up with reason? Yeah. But why would they list something new as opposed to just, you know, laying back on the elbow? I don't know. I think that sciatica is coming back. That sciatica hip and sciatica are closely related.

48:58Like we don't want to wildly recklessly speculate. But I believe according to my very limited medical knowledge, if you were suffering from sciatica, it would bother you in the hips. Again, I do not have any medical knowledge, but from all of the sciatica knowledge that I have, which was only obtained after learning about LeBron sciatica and then trying to Google it and figure out what was going on. Maybe it's something new. Maybe they're varying injuries. I don't know. I mean, this is the follies and the unknowns that come with LeBron being 41, season 23, all the mileage. You never know what may organically popped up. You never know. By the way, I have a question for you from the YouTube chat. Sure. Peter wants to know is, is that a cardigan that you are wearing? It is a cardigan. As a matter of fact, it is a great cardigan that I believe was a gift from my mother-in-law, either from my birthday or maybe Christmas, something like that. But I happen to be fond of this cardigan.

49:59Thank you very much. It's nice. I like it. I like it. My mom gave me a nice jacket over Christmas. I haven't worn it yet. Well, the best gift that my mother-in-law ever gave me was she insisted unprompted that I looked like Jason Statham. But she brought it up. I was like, this is the best we've ever been in our relationship. This is the most solid. My mother-in-law, and I have ever been on in the now about 20 years that I've either been dating or married to her daughter when she unprompted said that I resemble Jason Statham. By the way, no one's complimenting you on your pepper picture as well. Cowards. They don't want to admit that they love the pepper pig. But I sport pepper. I proudly wear the pepper. Solomon and Lake Balboa. You're on Lakers Talk. What's up, Solomon? Hey, I'm going to Andy, so nice being on your show. Thank you.

50:59I am so grateful that you brought it up at the end of the Denver game that the brawn, technically speaking, and for the win, should not have gone back in that lineup. Or you don't pull Ruby at that point, the way he was playing. Yeah. That said, to address your question, are those Lakers better with or without the brawn? I'll put it this way. They are better when the bicks to be are not playing together from what I can see. So whatever, too, you're going to have at the end of the game that's working the best. And that the brawn is not part of that unit. And they're playing great. And they're going for the win. You know, John says, well, you know, he's a brawn. And you cannot play him just that and the other. Just going to have to be some kind of understanding. Do you want to win? What do you want to play? Well, I appreciate the call, Solomon. And the point that I was making to John in case people didn't happen to be listening to that episode of Mason Ireland after the Denver game.

52:01This would not have been benching LeBron. Like LeBron was playing well against Denver. Like there was nothing he was doing wrong that would have prompted leaving him on the bench as some type of in game strategy. The problem was he got hurt. And he got put back into the game only a couple minutes after he was really shaken up at a time where the Lakers were rolling. They were they had a group that was really working and really in particular who got subbed out was really playing well on both ends. I said it's not a miss. It's in my opinion, it was a mistake. And it's not one that I'm going to kill JJ for because your natural inclination, particularly LeBron says, I'm good. Like your natural inclination would be to put him back in. But I really think that he should have just recognized in the moment at the very least, let's hold off. Like there's no reason to make this substitution. And LeBron clearly wasn't physically able to get through the game because he didn't finish it. He played for a few possessions.

53:01Other than a couple times where he passed the ball, his left arm was basically hanging off his shoulder dead arm, which I understand because again, he took a nasty fall. Like this wouldn't have been about punishing LeBron. It would have been about just in game recognition of what was working. Again, Lakers injury talk report brought to you by the call Jacob Injury. Hotline the only number L.A. Trust after an accident 800-345-6789-800-345-6789. Coming up big stretch of games for the Lakers over the next couple weeks. We're gonna break down some of the implications. That's all coming up. Lakers talk 710 ESPN.